New Leica S2 ----> 37 Million Pixels!

[kevin m]

...why not water proof and dustproof the M8 which is far more likely to be used in less than ideal conditions!

Yes, but you're thinking in practical terms; Leica was thinking target market. Seems they figured it right, too. A core group of Leica M owners will buy damned near anything the company makes, no matter how poorly executed.

 

[Solinar]

Is Leica looking for a new market niche?

Is Leica looking for a new market niche?

I find the introduction of a whole new mount instead of a R10 as a going for a new niche. It's a digital high end system much like the old Pentax 67.

The following images may be mock ups - but ooooooh what a system.

 

[peter_n]

Life will be easier for Leica supporting this, Keith. After all it won't be used by dentists ... 😀

Roland.

It will feature sensor, software, and firmware from Phase One who will also be the distibutors. Presumably Phase One will also be responsible for service. Summary announcement: http://www.s.leica-camera.com/in-action-news/

 

[peter_n]

If this S2 does actually take off and make them some real money maybe a full frame digital rangefinder is a reallity after all ... when they get back to it that is! 😛

The M line has already benefited: the two recently announced Summilux super-wides were a by-product of the lens research done for the S2. Leica's announcement included language that spoke to benefits for other lines the company makes.

 

[tmfabian]

...why not water proof and dustproof the M8 which is far more likely to be used in less than ideal conditions!

Could this be an attempt to bring back the old medium format wildlife photographer crowd to digital? I honestly have no clue, but it's the fist thing I thought of.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't this the first Leica with weather seals?

All in all, pretty cool stuff...and it's good to see Kauffman doing things with the company.

 

[infrequent]

well this camera is designed for field work by proper photogs. the M8 was designed for dentists and their hermetically sealed clinics. ; )

 

[haagen_dazs]

http://www.s.leica-camera.com/

what does AKTUELL mean? (title of page)

 

[dimitris]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]All this is well but I don't understand why Leica has spent all these resources for new lenses for M mount and new system but havent even bothered putting a full frame sensor in its M8. [/FONT]

 

[slm]

There are at least 4 threads on this camera.

Ah yes, the thread I was thinking of is this one

 

[Ray Nalley]

20,000 euro they say for the body. Get out your checkbook! 🙂

 

[Ray Nalley]

Since the thing won't go on sale for months, wonder if we can keep the hype going in this thread that long?

 

[Ray Nalley]

Well, Pitxu, I see you've joined the posting police.

 

[tmfabian]

20,000 euro they say for the body. Get out your checkbook! 🙂

That's actually not a half bad price for that. 7k less Euro than the H3 (10k USD less) If I were in the market for something that big i'd seriously consider this lil puppy. I just hope shops rent these things out like they rent out the hassy's.

 

[Ray Nalley]

Soap on a rope is definitely in style.

 

[Nh3]

Looks like a toaster to me and it will be toast.

How many pros will invest in these economic conditions on an unproven new system with new lenses from a company with terrible track record when it comes to digital cameras (M8 anyone)?

And secondly this camera costs 20,000+ for the body only and god knows how much for the lenses. So, the question arises whether the 50% more increase in sensor size would force pros to spend three and four times more on a new body and a new batch of lenses - considering that most of them already have lenses from the other systems.

And finally, what makes Leica think that Canon or Nikon will not be able to produce a similar or even better camera at even lower prices?

I also watched Kaufmann's introduction and his awkward reading of specs from a sheet in front of him... the whole thing just looked amateurish and awkward. Not something you expect from a confident company with a bright future.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/2879390004_229c972a94_o.jpg

 

[Avotius]

The way a camera body looks doesn't matter it's the images it produces. Have you ever seen Josef Sudek's camera?

I didnt say anything about the way it took pictures, I was just commenting on the way the camera looked, nothing else, you should have noticed that by what I wrote and noticed that I didnt mention that because the camera is ugly looking that it would not take good pictures.

 

[NIKON KIU]

But it is 'butt ugly' from certain angles! It has that very modular european look which doesn't really appeal to me ... I like bits that poke out that you can twiddle. Even the strap lugs are recessed!

Yeah,
Dart Vader is mean.

Kiu

 

[dimitris]

The more I look at this camera and think about Leica's obvious commitment to it's success and the costs involved the less inclined I am to believe that there will be a digital rangefinder in their line up in the future beyond the current M8.2

Zeiss have been very coy about the prospect as have Cosina and the Nikon rumours are just that ... rumours! Why build and design a new mouse trap when the mice are all but gone ... we die hard rangefinder users are the mice!

Well they cant survive only based of fashion photographers. I am sure there will be more to come. I was hoping for a FF M8 but oh well.

 

[Avotius]

The more I look at this camera and think about Leica's obvious commitment to it's success and the costs involved the less inclined I am to believe that there will be a digital rangefinder in their line up in the future beyond the current M8.2

Zeiss have been very coy about the prospect as have Cosina and the Nikon rumours are just that ... rumours! Why build and design a new mouse trap when the mice are all but gone ... we die hard rangefinder users are the mice!

I hear that, I just got back from the pingyao photo show and there were so many people wandering around with 1Ds Mark3's with huge white lenses around their neck it made my spine hurt. That said every once in a while there would be someone with a Leica M6 or MP and the world felt whole again.

 

[tmfabian]

...the less inclined I am to believe that there will be a digital rangefinder in their line up in the future beyond the current M8.2...

I'd imagine they wouldn't spend the R&D cash on developing new lenses for a rangefinder unless they had something in store down the line for a new DRF. Whether or not it'll be FF is something we're all just going to have to wait and see on.